The Iron Ring Centennial Conference set for January 24 in Hong Kong is positioned as a landmark moment for the Canadian engineering community in the Asia-Pacific region, celebrating a century of professional ethics while looking ahead to the future of the discipline.
The Canadian Engineering Asia-Pacific Conference will take place at the Grand Ballroom of the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, bringing together more than 300 engineering professionals, academics, and industry leaders from across the region.
The conference, which is open to the public, is designed for professionals, enthusiasts, and learners from diverse backgrounds and is not limited to engineering graduates. Organizers say the event will offer participants a broad range of perspectives on engineering ethics, education, and innovation.
The gathering coincides with a major milestone for the Canadian engineering profession: the centennial of the Iron Ring. First conferred in 1925, the Iron Ring symbolizes an engineer’s obligation to serve society with integrity, humility, and responsibility. In 2025, the Corporation of the Seven Wardens selected new poems for use in the iron ring ceremony.
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
The latest environmental engineering news direct to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Led by eight deans of engineering from Canadian universities, the Iron Ring Centennial Conference will commemorate 100 years since the first Iron Ring ceremony. The event will feature a formal re-obligation ceremony and discussions highlighting the evolving role of engineers in addressing global challenges.
“For 100 years, this symbolic ritual has reminded engineers of their solemn obligation to serve society with integrity, humility, and dedication,” said Charles Edwin Reeves, Consul General of Canada to Hong Kong and Macau. “As we celebrate this centennial in Hong Kong, we recognize not only this remarkable tradition, but also the strong and enduring bonds between Canada and the Indo-Pacific region.”
Attending deans include Viviane Yargeau (McGill University), Heather Sheardown (McMaster University), Kevin Deluzio (Queen’s University), James Olsen (University of British Columbia), Caroline Cao (University of Ottawa), Phillip Choi (University of Regina), Chris Yip (University of Toronto), and Mary Wells (University of Waterloo).
“Their collective presence underscores the significance of this centennial celebration and represents the very best of Canadian engineering leadership and academic excellence,” Reeves added.
The conference will also welcome Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, as a guest of honour, representing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
More than 300 engineering leaders from industry are expected to attend.
